Method of manufacturing cowlings



Oct. 29, 1929. A. A. ANDRAKE METHOD OF MANUFACTURING GOWLINGS Filed Feb. 15, 1928 INVENTOR A ndreuAA/zczml e.

ATTORNEY5.

Patented Oct. 29, 1929 PATE'NTDI OFFICE ANDREW A. ANDRAKE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; ASSIGNOR TO THE GLENN L. MARTIN COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF OHIO METHOD OF MANUFACTURING COW'LINGS Application filed February 15, 1928. serial no. 254,343:

This invention relates to a method of manufacturlng cowhngs for alrcraft engines.

Cowlings for alrcraft engines are usually fabricated from an aluminum alloy in sheet metal form in order to obtain a high strengthweight ratio. Such cowlings have to withstand heavy air pressures encountered in flight at high speeds, the conditions on this account being very different from those met with in automobile practice. Another consideration which has to be taken into account in the manufacture of these cowlings is that the conditions of use aflect materially the requirements in so far as the amount of louve ventilation is concerned. A plane intended for use in a warm climate should have -a considerably greater area of louvres than one which is to be used in a temperate climate, and a plane which is to go into a cold climate may need very little ventilation in the cowling. In order to meet the requirements of light weight and. strength it is common practice in the industry to manufacture the engine cowlings of heat treated aluminum alloy, such as duralumin. The sheet' metal from which portions of the cowling in which the louvres have heretofore been integrally formed was heat treated at a specified temperature, cooled to atmosphere, fabricating operations thereafter expedited while the metal is relatively soft but in process of age hardening peculiar to duralumin. The process is not well adapted to the subsequent installation of special louvre equipment to meet changed conditions of service.

One of the objects of my invention, therefore, is the provision of a method of manufacture which will simplify the stepsin the fabrication of those portions of the cowlings in which the louvres are to be located.

Another object is the provision of a meththat embodiment of the invention which, for the purposes of the present application, I have illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the forward portion of an airplane fuselage illustrating a cowling manufactured in accordance with the invention s Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the louvre unit illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 33 Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of amodified louvre unit.

In the drawing, the fuselage of an airplane is indicated at 10 and the propeller at 11. The propeller is driven by an internal combustion engine, not shown, which is mounted in the fuselage. Surrounding the engine is the engine cowling which is usually constructed in sections, both for manufacturing reasons and for the convenience of mechanics and pilots in working upon or inspecting the engine. In the drawing several of these sections are shown at 12, 13 and 14. In the present instance they are mounted .to swing upon hinges 15. Latches, diagrammatically illustrated at 16, may be employed for holding the various sections in closed position.

As above stated, the sheet metal of which the cowling and other parts of the plane are ordinarily constructed is heat treated and then age hardened during-and after fabrica-. tion. As it cannot be pressed into louvre units in such hardened condition, it is'necessary to again heat treat those sections of the cowlingin which the louvres are locatedbefore alteration or replacement of the louvres can he proceeded with.

In accordance with my invention the reworking of the cowling sections is dispensed with. The louvre sections of the cowling are produced from heat treated metal and are provided with one or more openings 17 of a uniform size. Louvre units 18 are made up to fit these openings. Panels 19 are also provided to fit the openings, and I may further provide units 20 made up of panel and louvre parts in any desired proportion, one example of which is illustrated in Fig. 4. In

this manner any desired area of louvres with in the limits provided maybe suppled and vidual louvre slats 21 stamped out of strip or sheet material, and rivet these slats at their from heat treated sheet metal tor units to fit said openings, Sana-p, proceeding during a portion of the age hardrocess'es ening period of the metal, and mounting said 2 units in said openings in said cowlings.

signature.

ANDREW A. ANDRAKE.

ends to straps 22, thereby forming an assem bled unit. The material of which the slats 21 are to be formed is heated to the requisite heat treating temperature, in accordance with,

one of the formulae known to those skilled in the art. The slats are immediately cut and formed from the heat treated material, then assembled with the straps 22 to form a louvre unit before age hardening has been completed. The units may be attached to the cowl sections within the openings 17 by any 'suitable means, the rivets 23 being illustrated for that purpose as they constitute means for producing joints that tend to remain tight and because they can be drilled out and removed quite readily when necessary without,

however,:inviting manipulation by inexpe-,

.rienced or unauthorized persons.

Louvre units composed of slats and straps riveted together are not subject to development of cracks as when formed in one piece of sheet metal or when formed in the cowlin section.

aving thus described my invention, I claim:

I 1. A; method of manufacturing aircraft engine cowlings, which comprises heat treating sheet metal, forming such metal into cowl-.

ings, cutting openings in said cowlings, making up louvre ventilator units to fit said openings, and mounting said units in said openings.

2. A method of manufacturing aircraft engine cowlings, which comprises heat treating sheet metal, forming such metal into cowlings, cutting openings in said cowlings,

making up from heat treated metal in a relatively soft condition louvre ventilator units to fit said openings, age hardening the metal of said units-during the course of their manufacture, and mounting said units in said openings.

3. A method of manufacturing aircraft engine cowlings which comprises heat treating sheet metal, forming such metal into cowl ings, cutting openings in said cowlings, heating strip metal, making up louvre ventilator slats individually from said heated stri metal, assembling said slats into units to t said openings, and mounting said units in said openings. Y

4. A method of manufacturing engine cowlings which comprises heat treatlng sheet metal, forming such metal into cowlings, cutting. openings in said cowlings, making up In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix 7o 

